Ordnance timer using chemical light

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a chemiluminescent ordnance timer. The device comprises essentially of a first ampule which contains a first reactive component, a second ampule containing a second reactive component, a mixing chamber for receiving both reactive components and for transmitting chemiluninescent light which is created by the mixture, a plurality of capillary tubes for imparting a predetermined time delay to the reactive components on their way to the mixing chamber, and finally, means for detecting the chemiluminescent light and for actuating an appropriate mechanism. Each of the ampules containing the reactive components are designed to break upon the application of a predetermined force such as a setback or a spin force which may be encountered in a projectile. Several safety features in the form of fluid sump means are provided along the capillary path to ensure that the detonator will activate only upon a predetermined sequence of events.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,837,282

Morrow Sept. 24, 1974 ORDNANCE TIMER USING CHEMICAL Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt LIGHT Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan [75] Inventor: Warren P. Morrow, Silver Spring, Attorney Agent or Flrm Edward Kelly; Saul M d Elbaum [73] Assignee: The United States of America as [57] ABSTRACT "presented the secretary of the Disclosed is a chemiluminescent ordnance timer. The Army, Washington device comprises essentially of a first ampule which [22] Filed. July 6, 1973 contains a first reactive component, a second ampule containing a second reactive component, a mixing PP N05 376,999 chamber for receiving both reactive components and for transmitting chemiluninescent light which is cre- 52 US. Cl. 102/70.2 R, 102/82 fated y the mixture, ep e y of capillary tubes f 51 Int. Cl F42 19/00, F42c 11/00 lmpartmg a predetrmmed e a to the reactlve [5 8] Field of Search l02/70.2 R, 70.2 G, 70.2 P, components on y the mlxlng h b and 102/82, 7; 240/225 finally, means for detecting the chemiluminescent light and for actuating an appropriate mechanism. [56] References Cited Each of the ampules containing the reactive compo- UNITED STATES PATENTS nents are designed to break upon the application of a predetermined force such as a setback or a spin force 2,060,201 sammmdrjt which may be encountered in a projectile. Several ggglgg'sl Z1971 v2? 4 25 safety features in the form of fluid sump means are 3612857 0/1971 Beaiy et a] 240/2'25 provided along the capillary path to ensure that the detonator will activate only upon a predetermined sequence of events.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures l2 IO EXP. TRAIN DET. LD PS AMF? (/1 f////////// IIIIIIIILL/ ORDNANCE TIMER USING CHEMICAL LIGHT RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the US. Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ordnance devices in general and more specifically to the use of chemical light as a timing device for mine, bomb and tube fired munitions.

The prior art contains numerous examples of systems designed to achieve a delay fuze mechanism. Most such prior art devices have relied upon the use of mechanical devices requiring moving parts which have their obvious disadvantages. The use of electrical delay mechanisms has also been suggested, however, such devices incur the ever present danger of accidental operation through the reception of stray signals or momentary temperature extremes above the ignition temperature of the pyrotechnic device.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an ordnance timer which avoids all of the abovementioned disadvantages.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an ordnance timer which does not require the use of mechanically moving parts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an ordnance timer which is simple and rugged in its construction.

An additional object is to provide an ordnance timer which does not depend upon the use of external or additional energy sources.

Still another object is to provide an ordnance timer which is safe and reliable in its operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, in accordance with this invention, a chemiluminescent device is provided which comprises a first ampule containing a first chemically reactive component, a second ampule containing a second chemically reactive component, a mixing chamber for receiving the mixture of said first and second components, the mixing chamber being transparent for permitting chemiluminescent light to pass therethrough, a plurality of capillary tubes for directing the reactive components between the ampules and the mixing chamber, and means responsive to the light for actuating a mechanism. The capillary tubes are designed in thickness and length to impart a predetermined time delay to the flow of fluid therein. Each of the ampules are designed to break upon the application of a predetermined setback and/or spin force acting upon the ampule. Appropriate sump means are provided along the capillary tubes to prevent the reactive components from reaching the mixing chamber if the proper sequence of events have not occurred.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The precise nature and operation of the present invention will become clear with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view in schematic format of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view in schematic format of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a projectile having a nose cone 10 contains the details of the aforementioned ordnance device. Ampule 13 contains a first chemically reactive component 14 and ampule 16 contains a second chemically reactive component 17.

The chemically reactive components 14 and 17 are selected such that their mixture will create a clearly detectable chemiluminescent light. The details of this chemical reaction are contained in the specification to US. Pat. No. 3,576,987 which patent is hereby specifically incorporated by reference.

Ampule 13 is housed within chamber 12 which communicates to capillary tube 22 through capillary tube 20 and ampule l6 communicates to capillary tube 22 by means of capillary tube 21. Capillary tube 22 empties fluid into mixing chamber 23.

In operation, ampules l3 and 16 will be broken by the strikers 18 and 19 which are responsive to predetermined setback forces. This breakage will cause the chemically reactive components 14 and 17 to traverse into capillary tube 22 and to mix in chamber 23, thereby creating a chemiluminescent light which will be detected by light detector 24. An electrical signal is then transmitted to and amplified by amplifier 26, which is provided with a source of power by power supply 25, and this amplified signal then utilized to activate detonator 27 which in turn will activate explosive train 28 in a known and conventional manner.

Strikers 18 and 19 are designed to respond to different setback forces in a known accepted manner. Similarly, chambers 12 and 15 together with their respective ampules 13 and 16 are designed to break upon the application of the predetermined setback force. The design of ampules capable of breakage upon the application of predetermined setback forces is by now well known in the art and need not be elaborated upon here. it should be apparent from FIG. 1 that sufficient setback forces to activate both strikers 18 and 19 would be required before the mixing chamber 23 would realize both reactive components 14 and 17.

Still greater safety features are incorporated into FIG. 2 which illustrates again the nose cone 10 containing the details of the present invention. Again, ampules 32 and 35 contain reactive components 33 and 36, respectively, and are housed within chambers 31 and 34, respectively. Upon the application of a predetermined setback force, striker 42 would break ampoule 35 causing reactive component 36 to enter capillary tube 40 and continue into capillary tube 48 and finally into mixing chamber 45. Ampule 32, containing reactive component 33, would break only upon the application of a predetermined spin force acting upon striker 41. Reactive component 33 would then flow into capillary 37, into capillary 47 and finally into mixing chamber 45.

Both reactive components 33 and 36 must reach mixing chamber 45 at the same time in order for chemiluminescent light to be detected by light detector 24. Should one reactive component reach mixing chamber 45 before the second reactive component, the first reactive component would then continue into capillary tube 49 and would dump into sump 46. Additionally,

should only one ampule be broken, as would occur if the fuze were accidentally dropped, the reactive component from that one ampule would seep into one of the lateral sumps 43, 44 or 38, 39. Should the second ampule then be broken at a later time, the reactive component captured in the sump would never reach the mixing bowl (or having reached the mixing bowl would already have reached sump 46) such that the mixing condition in chamber 45 would not occur. This would result in a safe condition.

The spin rate, the inside diameter of the capillary tubing, the length of the tubing and the deceleration rate all contribute to the arming and delay time which is imposed upon the fluid flowing in the capillary tubes. These delay times can, of course, be varied and predesigned to achieve a desired situation and in a manner which would be well within the ability of persons having ordinary skill in this art. Additional features and modifications of the present invention will become apparent tothose having read the instant disclosure. Thus, it is possible to increase significantly the delay times by bending the capillary tubing to thereby create an additional length of tubing. The precise structure of the ampules and associated housing will depend upon current state of the art technology. At the present time, suitable materials would consist of glass, transparent plastics, known laminates and other known components. Accordingly, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications can be made by a person skilled in the art.

I claim as my invention 1. A chemiluminescent device comprising;

a. a first impule containing a first reactive component;

b. a second ampule containing a second reactive component;

c. a mixing chamber for receiving the mixture of said first and second reactive components and for transmitting chemiluminescent light created by said mixture;

d. means for directing said first and second reactive components from said first and second ampules to said mixing chamber; and

e. means responsive to said light for activating a mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for directing reactive components comprises capillary tubes for imparting a predetermined time delay to the flow of fluid therein.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising means for causing said first ampule to break upon the application of a first predetermined force and means for causing said second ampule to break upon the application of a second predetermined force.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first and second forces are setback forces.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said first force is a setback force and said second force is a spin force.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said means for activating a mechanism comprises means for actuating a detonator and means for actuating an explosive train.

forces have been applied. 

1. A chemiluminescent device comprising; a. a first impule containing a first reactive component; b. a second ampule containing a second reactive component; c. a mixing chamber for receiving the mixture of said first and second reactive components and for transmitting chemiluminescent light created by said mixture; d. means for directing said first and second reactive components from said first and second ampules to said mixing chamber; and e. means responsive to said light for activating a mechanism.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for directing reactive components comprises capillary tubes for imparting a predetermined time delay to the flow of fluid therein.
 3. The device of claim 2 further comprising means for causing said first ampule to break upon the application of a first predetermined force and means for causing said second ampule to break upon the application of a second predetermined force.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first and second forces are setback forces.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said first force is a setback force and said second force is a spin force.
 6. The device of claim 3 wherein said means for activating a mechanism comprises means for actuating a detonator and means for actuating an explosive train.
 7. The device of claim 3 further comprising sump means associated with at least one of said capillary tubes to prevent said reactive components from reaching the mixing chamber unless the proper sequence of forces have been applied. 